Chapter 150 Real murderer!

Chapter 150: Chapter 150 Real murderer!

FLASHBACK — 24 HOURS BEFORE THE GENERAL’S MURDER

Thomas Hart was done with his usual horrifying assignment.

For weeks, he had been forced to watch the Mad Scientist, Mr. Davis, conduct experiments on awakened humans. Every night, more families were shipped into the facility. Some arrived believing they were being brought somewhere safe. Others were dragged in against their will.

But once they entered the facility, none of them came back the same.

Thomas had seen deep cuts made into their bodies while they were still conscious. He had watched as organs were harvested and placed into containers. Needles were inserted into their veins, their chests, and even their spines as scientists searched for traces of the mysterious essence that gave awakened people their abilities.

Whenever they discovered something they considered high quality, they extracted it. Then they placed it into another body. Sometimes the recipient was an ordinary human. Sometimes it was an awakened person.

The result was almost always the same.

Death.

Thomas had grown used to seeing blood. He had grown used to screams. He had even grown used to seeing corpses being dragged away afterward.

But that day was different.

The final stage of one particular experiment was taking place. And what Thomas saw nearly made his heart jump out of his chest.

"Take this."

A tray of meat was shoved into his hands. Thomas looked down. Then he looked toward the enormous glass tank in front of him.

"Feed the subject."

The order came from one of the scientists.

Thomas swallowed. He didn’t understand why there was water inside the tank. The subject was supposed to be human. At least, that’s what she had been when she arrived.

He slowly approached the glass with the food. Then he stopped.

His entire body went rigid.

The woman inside the tank no longer looked completely human. Dark green scales had spread across her body. They covered her arms, shoulders, neck, and parts of her face. Her eyes had changed too. The pupils were becoming narrow and slit-like. Her fingers were stretching into claws. Between them, thin pieces of webbed skin had formed.

Thomas’s breathing became shallow.

But that wasn’t even the worst part.

He looked down. Her legs were changing. The transformation was happening right in front of him.

The woman’s body suddenly convulsed. Her legs twisted. Bones shifted. Flesh stretched. Then—CRACK!

Thomas flinched. Blood immediately clouded the water.

The woman’s legs began forcing themselves together as if something inside her body was physically pulling them into one. She opened her mouth and released a horrifying scream.

Thomas almost dropped the tray. He had seen people die before. He had seen awakened people lose control of their powers. But this was different. This was someone being turned into something else while she was still alive.

Her legs continued changing until they resembled a single massive fin-like structure. Thomas couldn’t look away.

"Have you passed the food like I told you to?"

The thunderous voice behind him made Thomas jump. He turned.

Mr. Davis stood several feet away. The Mad Scientist.

Thomas quickly forced himself to move. "Yes, sir."

He approached the tank and carefully placed the food near the edge. He wanted to get away as quickly as possible. But before he could pull his hand back—a claw shot upward.

Thomas’s eyes widened. The creature grabbed his wrist.

"What—?!"

She yanked him forward. Thomas slammed against the glass. "Let go!"

The creature’s strength was terrifying. Her clawed fingers dug into his skin. Then her mouth opened. Sharp fangs sank into his hand.

"AHHH!"

Thomas screamed. Pain exploded through his arm. Blood began dripping down his wrist.

The creature pulled harder. Thomas’s upper body was dragged toward the opening of the tank. His feet scraped desperately against the floor.

"No!" He tried pulling himself backward. But the creature’s grip was like iron. She was strong enough to drag his entire body into the water.

Thomas looked toward Mr. Davis. "Please!" His voice cracked. "Mr. Davis, save me!"

The scientist slowly approached. And then he laughed. Not a nervous laugh. Not a shocked laugh. He genuinely found the situation amusing. His grin stretched from ear to ear as he watched Thomas struggle.

"Interesting."

Thomas stared at him in disbelief. "Please!" His arm was bleeding heavily. The creature pulled again. Thomas felt his body sliding toward the tank. "Mr. Davis!"

The scientist finally moved. He grabbed a gigantic syringe filled with a strange, slimy liquid. Then he plunged it directly through the water and into the creature’s body.

The reaction was immediate. The creature released a deafening roar. Thomas’s wrist slipped free. He fell backward onto the floor.

The creature thrashed violently inside the tank.

"Yes..." Mr. Davis smiled. "That’s it." He watched the creature carefully. "Be a good baby for Daddy." He tilted his head. "And don’t go biting my workers."

The creature slowly became still.

Thomas remained on the ground, clutching his injured hand. Blood continued dripping from the wound.

Mr. Davis didn’t even bother treating him. Instead, he looked down at him. "Get that fixed."

Thomas stared up at him. "What?"

"Unless you want me to turn you into one of my experiments." The scientist’s smile widened. "Or perhaps food for them."

Thomas’s blood ran cold.

He immediately scrambled to his feet. Holding his wounded hand tightly against his chest, he staggered away. He didn’t look back. He couldn’t.

He hurried through the dark corridors, his head spinning. His hand was throbbing. His vision blurred several times.

Finally, he pushed through a door and found himself in another section of the facility. A piece of white linen was lying nearby. Thomas immediately grabbed it and pressed it against his wound. He sank against the wall. His breathing was heavy.

Then he noticed a box lying across from him. A first-aid kit.

He crawled toward it, opened it, and immediately began cleaning the wound. The antiseptic burned. Thomas hissed. But the pain was nothing compared to the bite. At least the bleeding was slowing.

He wrapped the wound tightly. Then he leaned his head against the wall.

"I can’t let my family fall victim to this." His voice was barely above a whisper. "This is dehumanizing."

He stared at his injured hand. "They don’t even choose ordinary people anymore." His expression darkened. "They’re going after the privileged too."

Thomas had once believed that the experiments were being performed on poor people because they had no one powerful enough to protect them. But now? Families with money were being taken too. People with influence. People who thought their status could protect them.

Thomas shook his head. "None of us are safe."

He closed his eyes.

Then he heard footsteps. Thomas immediately became alert. Someone was walking through the pristine white corridor outside. He moved slightly closer to the door.

A man stood there, speaking on the phone.

Thomas recognized him. Chris.

Thomas stayed completely silent. The corridor was usually empty except for scientists, guards, and workers transporting bodies. Chris apparently hadn’t realized someone was hiding inside the dark room.

"...He’s changing his mind, sir."

Thomas frowned.

Chris continued. "He’s beginning to think we’re going beyond the limits of the project."

Thomas’s breathing stopped.

"He is becoming paranoid about the fact that we’re experimenting on people who are supposed to be protected." Chris lowered his voice. "I don’t think he’s the right person to lead us into the final phase of this project."

Thomas’s eyes widened.

Who is he talking about?

The voice on the other end responded. Thomas couldn’t hear the exact words.

Then Chris spoke again. "He’s your father, sir."

Thomas’s eyes widened even further.

Father?

Chris continued listening. Then the question came through faintly. "What do you suggest we do about him?"

Chris smiled. "Kill him."

Thomas covered his mouth. His heart pounded.

"That’s the best idea right now." Chris’s expression hardened. "He’s becoming a barrier to the project." He glanced around the hallway. "He’s too soft-hearted. Too weak-minded to follow through with the business."

Thomas stared through the crack in the door.

"And you know what he’ll eventually do?" Chris smiled coldly. "He’ll expose us." His voice became bitter. "He’ll tell the people around him what we’re doing and destroy everything."

Thomas felt a chill.

"That’s who my father is." Chris’s expression twisted. "He’s always been a coward."

The call ended.

Thomas stood frozen. His mind began racing.

If Chris was talking about the General, then this meant the General knew about the experiments. But why would he want to stop them? And who was the person Chris had been speaking to?

Thomas swallowed. The answer suddenly seemed obvious.

Someone more powerful than the General. Someone who could give orders. Someone with enough influence to control the entire safe zone.

The president.

Thomas’s face went pale.

The president knows. He knew about the experiments. He had probably funded them. He had encouraged them.

And the General... The General wasn’t the mastermind. He was only a puppet being commanded by someone above him.

Thomas’s stomach twisted.

But one thought refused to leave his mind. Chris can’t kill his own father. There was no way.

Or at least, Thomas desperately wanted to believe there wasn’t.

Then Chris walked away.

Thomas waited. He should have stayed where he was. He should have forgotten what he’d heard. But curiosity got the better of him.

He quietly followed.

He regretted it almost immediately.

Chris entered a private room carrying a tray of food. Thomas stopped outside.

Through the partially opened door, he saw the General lying in bed. The General looked asleep.

Thomas watched Chris place the tray down. Then Chris picked up a pillow.

Thomas’s eyes widened. "No..."

Chris pressed the pillow over his father’s face. The General immediately began struggling. His hands moved weakly. His body twisted beneath the sheets.

Thomas covered his mouth to stop himself from screaming.

The General couldn’t fight properly. Then Thomas realized why. He was drugged.

Chris continued pressing the pillow down. The General’s movements became weaker.

Thomas’s entire body trembled. He couldn’t watch anymore.

He accidentally made a sound.

Chris’s head snapped toward the door.

Thomas turned and ran.

He sprinted down the corridor as fast as his injured body allowed. Behind him, Chris rushed toward the doorway.

"Who’s there?!"

Thomas didn’t stop. He disappeared around the corner.

But he didn’t know one thing.

A security camera had captured him. Every movement. Every second. Everything.

Chris slowly looked up at the camera. His expression became cold. Then he smiled.

******

PRESENT

Thomas lowered his head. "That’s what happened, Mom."

Madison stared at him. Her face had gone pale.

"This place is evil."

Thomas looked toward the filthy prison walls. "We’re basically stock for their experiments." His voice shook. "If we don’t get out of here, we’re going to die."

He looked down

at his hands. "Every one of us is being given something that makes us sleep like dead corpses."

Thomas swallowed. "I don’t know how we’re supposed to escape." His eyes moved toward the distant cell. "But I don’t want to become one of those abominations."